Verde
05. Beasley Flat to Gap Creek(the Verde daily)
| Difficulty | III+(IV) |
| Length | 7.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Verde River Near Camp Verde, Az |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 93 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 14, 2026 |
River Description
The 'Gap run' of the Verde is a river resource that Arizona is lucky to have. In this section, the river leaves its wide, populated valley behind and enters a wilderness environment with scenic canyon walls. It features roughly five class III rapids, a handful of easier ones, and a chunky IV at Verde Falls. At low to moderate water levels, this run is suitable for developing boaters who have practiced some basic boat handling and safety skills and are looking to engage with more interesting river features. There are a few surf waves and plenty of good eddies to catch. The named rapids in the first half of the run can be portaged with ease, but the second half would have a bit more bushwacking. So, don't let the IV rating deter you from venturing into this section, but be ready to recognize hazards like fallen trees and approaching rapids. Boaters commonly clear wood hazards from this run and keep the channels wide and open, making it somewhat safer than other nearby sections rated class I.
It is enjoyable down to 150cfs in small boats like packrafts and kayaks. These flows occur consistently during the cool season November-March due to groundwater springs. The water is clear and cold, so dress for the swim! In the remaining months, water is diverted for agriculture making this section borderline unrunnable unless there is a heavy snowpack (April) or extreme precipitation event (May-October).
Any increase in flows from rain or snowmelt is welcome. By 300cfs the rapids become noticeably more cushioned, at 500cfs rocks begin to disappear and waves get sizeable. The channels are still open and navigable at 1000cfs and beyond, but make sure you know the lines and don't end up paddling into a dead-end forest!
Shuttle: The dirt road to Gap Creek is usually passable by a skilled Honda Fit driver, but it is not 'just gravel', i.e. it has some rocky sections, so it is better in a crossover at least. It makes a nice ride on a mountain bike, and could defin
...River Features
Mesquite RAP
Mesquite is a nice access point upstream of Beasley Flat that makes for shorter shuttle and longer float, but doesn't add any whitewater. Look for the small inconspicuous dirt lot on the left as soon as you leave private property
Put In
Beasley Flat has toilets and ample parking.
Off the Wall
Off the Wall is the first named rapid and has many channels. The far right bends sharply and runs very close to the wall. The second is rocky and best at higher water. The third channel is narrow and has a nice 2ft drop in the center. The far left channel has a long flat entrance and drops steeply and blindly, often blocked by wood.
Pre-Falls
Pre-Falls has a rocky entrance and ends in a river-wide ledge drop about 2ft high. It is pretty sticky and a good place to practice boof strokes.
Verde Falls
Verde Falls a 4-5ft ledge, and is runnable down to 150cfs via a narrow autoboof into a slot. At flows above 700cfs a cleaner ledge boof on the left opens up, and the right line becomes a juicy wave-hole. It has a fun rocky runout and is followed by a pretty basalt narrows that leads to a few excellent unnamed class II rapids. The falls is easily identified and portaged on river left.
Chasm Creek
Chasm Creek enters from the right after a long pool that features the stream gauge on the right. It is an optional hiking takeout for packrafters looking to avoid a shuttle. It is two miles up the scenic canyon to the dirt road, then 2 more miles back to the Mesquite put-in. It makes a great half lap and is a pretty hike with a section of narrows, especially nice in November with changing foliage. Be aware that this option is often part of a closed area that protects eagle nesting grounds.
Palisades
Palisades is the first named rapid on the Verde that feels 'normal'. It is wide open with few wood hazards, and is just a steep drop of small rocks. Follow the water through the shallow entrance and work your way to the left for the final plunge, which makes a surprisingly good surf wave at most water levels.
Bull Run
Bull Run is probably the least notable named rapid on the Gap run, a short drop easily confused with other unnamed rapids. There is a ledge on the right is runnable if the water is deep enough, or can be avoided by moving left.
Punk Rock
Punk Rock is the final named rapid before Gap Creek. Pretty much any line can be run, but at low water the easy line is right to left, finding the smoothest passage at the top and aiming to left of the boulder at the bottom.
Take Out
The Gap Creek confluence is a large flood delta. Take out and shoulder or deflate your boat, following the creek upstream to the parking area about 1/2 of a mile. There is a fence shortly, find the gate on creek right that will help get you on the right trail.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportMy friend and I ran the river with an inflatable and hard shell kayak between Beasley Flats and Childs in late March 2020 at 3000- 4000 cfs. Diverging river channels at many sections throughout the run make it difficult to determine the main channel without significant scouting. Choosing the wrong channel leads to a fast ride through brush and trees or worse. Mean looking keeper across most of the Verde Falls with a large boulder in the middle of the river below the falls, completely covered with water and with a hole below. Lined both of our kayaks around Verde Falls. Assisted two rafters in extracting their raft from brush after they flipped at the falls. Chased down a kayak which got away from another boater who flipped at the pre-falls. On the other hand, observed a paddler in an inflatable kayak run the falls on the extreme river left. The high flows create many rapids which are not discussed in the USFS Verde River Guide. In summary, at high flows and given the remote location, take your time, scout the rapids and be prepared for sweepers and trees in the channels.
Richard Olm
Fall Verde Trip 2010 - Mike on the bank.
Got munched by Big Pink Rapid
On Tonto National Forest's website, find
'Verde River Guide' ...a 25-page packet of maps and rapid descriptions. http://www.fs.usda.gov/attmain/tonto/specialplaces
Wilderness run is fun, scenic but not clean. Must make eddies and careful route picking skills required in at least 4 spots in the 60 miles. A mistake could mean wrap, pin, loss of boat or worse. Be careful. Not a run for occasional class 3 boaters, especially given the remoteness.
Nice winter base flow on the Verde.
Some how from here we ended up doing a 'McIver', an advanced-level maneuver [as far as anyone who doesn't know-better knows...], where you go backwards through the rapids.
Punk rock becomes a hole, find out when at moenkopi high water alert